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ETRELA – Expanding Renewable Energy Education in Latin America

ETRELA stands for Improving, Increasing and Facilitating Access to Renewable Energy Education and Training in Latin America. It strengthens renewable energy and energy efficiency education across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The project ensures a sustainable increase in skilled professionals along the entire renewable energy value chain. ETRELA is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), funded by the German government and led by OLADE (Latin American Energy Organization).

Objectives

The project’s core mission is to expand renewable energy education in Latin America by enhancing the quality of training programmes. At the same time, it seeks to increase the number of professionals qualified in these fields while making education more accessible to universities, professors, and students throughout the region.

Target groups

ETRELA primarily addresses universities, professors and trainers seeking to upgrade their skills and future professionals in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Activities

ETRELA enhances renewable energy education by developing curricula for different renewable energy careers, supporting universities with modern training centres, and preparing educators through online and Train-the-Trainer programmes.

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Client International Climate Initiative IKI
Countries   Argentina
  Brazil
  Colombia
  Dominican Republic
  Honduras
  Peru
  Uruguay
Period 2023 - 2027
Status Current
Expertises Photovoltaics
Solar thermal
Wind energy
Energy efficiency
Economics & Finance
Overview

Apply to ETRELA activities

The next application phase for ETRELA Activities will be announced here.

Silke Jenssen
Head of Division

Cooperation Partners

ETRELA – Online Academy

ETRELA Online Academy offers eight different technology-specific renewable energy online courses. Participation is fully funded for the scope of this project by IKI, International Climate Initiative.

Wind Power

Get the essential skills to teach and lead in the energy transition aspects of wind technology.

Core Topics

  • Different applications of wind turbines
  • Economic and environmental aspects of wind power
  • Different wind turbine configurations
  • Understanding components of a Wind Turbine
  • Standards and norms for wind turbines and wind resource surveying
  • Operation and maintenance of a large wind farm
  • Wind farm dismantling and repowering steps

Beneficiaries

  • Professors and teaching staff

 

Online Training
Duration2 months
Study timeAbout 60 hours
Locationonline
LanguageEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese

Solar PV

This training give the skills to plan, calculate and implement successful solar PV projects.

Key Skills Gained

  • Conduct feasibility assessments
  • Calculate key economic parameters
  • Navigate permitting & legal frameworks
  • Evaluate market conditions
  • Define the steps from planning to O&M
  • Apply best practices for implementation
  • Ensure efficient operation and maintenance of PV systems

Beneficiaries

  • Professors and teaching staff
Online Training
Duration2 months
Study timeAbout 60 hours
Locationonline
LanguageEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese

Solar thermal

Get the essential skills to teach and lead in the energy transition aspects of solar thermal technology.

Core Topics

  • Relevance of solar thermal in the energy mix
  • Basic economics
  • System components
  • Types of solar thermal systems and solar thermal collectors
  • Basics of system sizing, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance
  • Large-scale solar thermal: components, performance standards, system configurations, applications
  • Large-scake solar thermal: sizing and design
  • Physical principle of the thermosiphon effect and systems components

Beneficiaries

  • Professors and teaching staff
Online Training
Duration2 months
Study timeAbout 60 hours
Locationonline
LanguageEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese

Mini-grids

Get the essential skills to teach and lead in the energy transition aspects of mini grids.

Core Topics

  • Definitions, types, technologies (generation, distribution, storage) and applications
  • Strategic planning and enabling conditions: market overview, regulations, governance, ownership models, stakeholders, and gender aspects
  • Business models and financial frameworks: value chains, tariffs, financing mechanisms, risk management, investor guidelines, and digital tools
  • Project development: demand assessment, productive use of energy (PUE), demand response, technical/economic design frameworks, and component selection
  • Implementation: installation, commissioning, grid interconnection (technical, regulatory, economic aspects)
  • Operation and maintenance: operational strategies, monitoring (including digital tools), preventive and corrective maintenance
  • Quality assurance and sustainability: standards, testing protocols, ESG integration, and social/environmental sustainability
Online Training
Duration2 months
Study timeAbout 60 hours
Locationonline
LanguageEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese

Economics and Finance

Get the essential skills to teach and lead in the energy transition from an economic point of view:

Core Topics

  • Basic values of wind and solar PV projects
  • Basics of project finance and structuring
  • Tools to secure loans and improve credit
  • Insights into engineering, procurement, and construction contracts
  • Insights into Power and Purchase Agreements
  • Tools for renewable energy project evaluation
  • Practical risk management for renewable energy projects

 

Online Training
Duration2 months
Study timeAbout 60 hours
Locationonline
LanguageEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese

Energy Efficiency

Get the key competencies and skills to teach and lead in the field of energy efficiency.

Core Topics Track 1: Energy Efficiency in Industry

  • Factors impacting energy efficiency in industrial systems and solutions for energy performance improvements
  • Digital, automation and renewable energy applications and strategies in the industrial sector

Core Topics Track 2: Energy Efficiency in Buildings

  • Design techniques improving energy efficiency in buildings
  • Principles of work of active energy consumption systems
  • Energy efficient building classifications and standards
  • Benefits of passive strategies
  • Sustainable materials and renewable technologies
Online Training
Duration2 months
Study timeAbout 60 hours
Locationonline
LanguageEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese
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My Name is Alejandra Escobar Rubalcava
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